**A pre meeting for Members to prepare for the Panel will take place 45 minutes before the meeting**
The Press and Public are welcome to attend for the consideration of any items which are public.
Councillor Paton (Chair), Councillors Mrs Finlayson (Vice-Chair), Glover, Mrs McKerrell, Shepherd, Sunter, Mrs Tarbitt, Miss Whalen.
Substitutes:
Alcroft, Atkinson, Bainbridge, Birks, Mrs Bowman, Brown, Collier, Ms Ellis-Williams, Mrs Glendinning, Lishman, Meller, Mrs Mitchell, Mitchelson, Morton, Ms Patrick, Robson, Miss Sherriff, Southward, Dr Tickner, and Tinnion.
To note that Council, at its meeting of 9 November 2021, received and adopted the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2021. [Copy minutes in Minute Book 48(3)]. The Chair will move the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that may be discussed is their accuracy. (Copy minutes herewith)
To consider any matter which has been the subject of call-in.
The Panel welcomed Ms Parker from Cumbria County Council to the meeting.
The City Engineer submitted the Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and the Hadrian's Wall Cycling and Walking Corridor Project (CS.43/21). The report provided details of the LCWIP proposals which were currently the subject of public consultation. The report was a final opportunity to comment on the proposals before the final plan was prepared early next year.
The second project was a plan to develop the Hadrian’s Wall Cycling and Walking Route between Millom and Gilsland. The aim was to provide a route which was off-road wherever feasible. Details were currently being developed and further details would be presented as they developed. At this stage outline proposals are being presented. Ms Parker gave a presentation to the Panel setting out the national and local context; the national vision and benefits of cycling and walking; details of cycle design standards; details of the Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan and how this fit in with the cycling and walking vision; the Cycling and Walking Programme and background information on LCWIPs. The presentation then detailed the LCWIPs plans for the area along with the consultation process and timeline for delivery in Carlisle. Ms Parker went on to detail the Hadrian's Walking Cycling and Walking Project including the objectives; progress and timeline. The presentation also highlighted funding opportunities for both projects and how they would be promoted. In considering the report and presentation Members raised the following comments and questions: - Had consideration been given to the installation of cycle for hire at the railway station? Ms Parker responded that the idea was being looked into and storage may also be available. - Where could local businesses find out about cycle network connectivity gaps? - Ms Parker advised that the information was available on Cumbria County Council's website along with a contact email address for enquiries. - The East / West cross county connectivity only referred to the A66, where there plans to include the A69 / A689? Ms Parker stated that the strategic corridors including East / West were currently evolving and invited the Member to feed his comments into the LCWIP consultation via the City Engineer. - Was data available on the numbers using cycle lanes in the city? Ms Parker responded that census data provided an average figure in comparison to national average date, but in order to get more up to date information, counting equipment would need to be installed on the cycle ways. - Was there any discussions taking place with other authorities to create cycle connectivity beyond the county? Ms Parker advised that Officers within the Borderlands Partnership held regular meetings, it was possible that some of the Partnership's projects may include cycle parking provision. The Member welcomed the plans for segregated cycles lanes as they would make people feel safer and hopefully increase usage. - What consultation had been undertaken with disability groups? Notification of the consultation had been circulated to disability groups. Government strategy stated that cycling provision had to be accessible for all, consideration was currently been given to the types of improvements needed which would require additional engagement with the appropriate groups. In response to a comment from the Leader about the need to incorporate maintenance of the existing cycle paths, the Environment and Transport Portfolio Holder stated that government funding was able to be used to bring the existing network in line with current standards as that would assist in the creation of a coherent network. A Member felt that the LCWIP would provide a key role in supporting Carlisle as a place, he suggested that the Panel consider scrutinising how Carlisle as a place could be supported along with its residents. The Chair thanked Ms Parker for her presentation. RESOLVED - The Panel noted the contents of report CS.43/21 and associated presentation regarding the ongoing work to develop the Carlisle Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and to develop the Hadrian's wall Cycling and Walking Project.
Details of the background position; core grant; lease arrangements; building and collection financial implications; impact of COVID-19 and impact of the proposals put forward by Tullie House Trust were provided within the report. The Executive had considered the matter at its meeting on 25 October 2021 (EX.118/21 referred) and referred the report to the Panel for their review and recommendations. Mr Mackay advised that the Business Plan as presented in the report had been predicated on the securing of £21.4M of grant funding for the capital development scheme Project Tullie, however, the application had been unsuccessful. Accordingly, the Trustees intended to develop a new Business Plan. 2022/23 was the second in a three year reduction of the grant funding received from the Council. In order to address the reduced level of monies from the Council, Tullie House Trust had taken steps to increase income and reduce costs in relation to its management fee. The restrictions placed on the facility in relation to Covid 19 had also had a negative impact, whilst restrictions were now lifted visitor number had not yet returned to the same level as they had been pre-pandemic. The facility was now only opening 6 days per week; without securing additional funding it was possible that a further reduction in opening hours would be needed. Mr Mackay stated that in order for the Trust to remain financially stable it may need to use its reserves, secure additional capital development grant funding or match funding from the Council. The Trust proposed that the revenue funding from the Council be reduced annually by £200,000 rather than the £300,000 put forward by the authority. In considering the report and presentation Members raised the following comments and questions: - Why was the Guildhall not open to the public Mr Mackay advised that there were a number of structural and DDA non-compliance issues that meant that the facility could not be open to the public. The Heritage Officer had latterly undertaken a visit to the site which was an important Listed Building feature within the city; a further meeting with a group of Conservation Officers was scheduled for early in the new year, and it was hoped that solutions would be identified that would enable the Guildhall to be publicly accessible in the future. - Was there any government funding that the Trust may access, perhaps in relation to Covid 19 Mr Mackay responded that the Trust had received some Covid 19 funding from government, however, such monies were disbursed at a sector level rather than to individual facilities. The Trust was part of the Destination strand of the Borderlands project, it was hoped some investment may be forthcoming from that involvement. Following a question from a member of the Executive to Tullie House discussion arose as to the role of Executive members in Scrutiny meetings. Further discussion then ensued between some members of the Panel and the Executive regarding the history of decision making in respect of the level of funding support the Council provided to Tullie House. - What measures were Tullie House Trust taking in respect of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Cumbria Mr Mackay advised that he was having regular contact with Officers on the matter. The Deputy Chief Executive added that legal contracts existed between the Tullie House Trust and the Council, as part of LGR, the appropriate legal processes would be enacted to ensure the proper transfer of the Trust to the new local authority. RESOLVED - That the Panel had received report CS.44/21 and the proposed Business Plan.
The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources submitted the annual budget reports, noting that the Panel’s consideration marked the beginning of the process for setting and approving the Council’s Budget.
The Principal Health and Housing Officer presented the latest review and and assessment of air quality in the District (GD.83/21). The report discussed the 4-declared air quality management areas (AQMAs) and the most recent data from the Annual Status Report 2021, which covered data collected during 2020. The Chair asked whether the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions was likely to lead to increased levels of air pollution The Principal Health and Housing Officer responded that there were differing views on what impact the lifting of restrictions would create as working patterns were now changed for many people. In addition the phasing out of older diesel engine vehicles would generate a decrease in emissions.
RESOLVED - That the Panel had received the most recent air quality monitoring data (GD.83/21).
In response to a question from a Member regarding the impact of the shortage of HGV drivers in respect of refuse collection vehicles, the Environment and Transport Portfolio Holder advised that the service remained short of 1 driver, but he hoped that levels of service would return to normal in the near future. RESOLVED - 1) That report PC.38/21 be noted.
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Enquiries, requests for reports, background papers etc to: committeeservices@carlisle.gov.uk
Also Present: Ms Parker, Cumbria County Council Mr Mackay, Tullie House Ms Smalley, Tullie House Councillor J Mallinson, Leader Councillor Ellis, Finance, Governance and Resources Portfolio Holder Councillor Mrs Mallinson, Communities, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder Councillor Christian, Environment and Transport Councillor Nedved, Economy, Enterprise and Housing Councillor Higgs, Culture Heritage and Leisure Portfolio Holder Officers: Deputy Chief Executive Corporate Director of Finance and Resources City Engineer Health and Wellbeing Manager Neighbourhood Services Manager Principal Health and Housing Officer